District considers hikes in water and sewer..

Taylorsville-Bennion • Residents would pay $90 more per year to upgrade system, including doubling of monthly "availability fee."

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The Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District is considering an increase in water and sewer charges to cover rising costs and the replacement of aging wells and lines.

The proposed hike would raise the average customer's bill to $48.70 a month, a bump of about $7.50 a month, or $90 a year, effective Jan. 1.

A public hearing on the proposal by the district's three-member board is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at district offices, 1800 W. 4700 South, in Taylorsville.

The proposal would boost water and sewer rates by 5 percent, adding 8 cents to the current charge of $1.54 per 1,000 gallons used.

The rest of the increase would come from more than doubling the "availability fee" charged by the district — from $4.50 to $10 monthly — to help cover the fixed costs of maintaining the systems, such as paying for insurance, bonds and construction projects.

District General Manager Keith Lord said lines and wells — some more than 50 years old — will be upgraded or replaced in the next decade.

Established in 1957, the improvement district covers 14 square miles west of the Jordan River. About 70,000 people live in the district, which has 16,600 water connections.

pmanson@sltrib.com

Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC

District considers hikes in water and sewer charges